The ’60s British club scene had an abundance of full-throated singers, Chris Farlowe among the most accomplished, endorsed by Otis Redding and, supposedly, rejecting first stab at recording “Yesterday”. He wisely didn’t spurn Andrew Oldham and Mick Jagger’s advances and, handed Stones songs on a plate, his craggy voice meshed brilliantly with a contemporary pop veneer, propelling “Out Of Time” up the charts. Nothing else matched it. As Immediate crumbled, “Handbags And Gladrags” gave Farlowe a final minor hit. Rival Rod Stewart coveted the song but had the last laugh? Chris’ career stalled, Rod’s escalated.
MICK HOUGHTON
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